NYPD hate crimes task force investigating Nazi drawings found at an elementary school

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 20: A police car sits in front of One World Trade at ground zero in Manhattan on March 20, 2017 in New York City. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has been voicing criticism of President Donald Trump's proposed budget that could cut as much as $190 million from New York City efforts to fight terrorism. Following two major terrorist attacks and numerous foiled plots, New York City is considered the nation's prime target for terrorists. The NYPD has stated that it costs $500,000 a day to pay for the nearly 200 police officers in and around Trump Tower on Fifth Ave. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

NYPD hate crimes task force investigating Nazi drawings found at an elementary school

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 20: A police car sits in front of One World Trade at ground zero in Manhattan on March 20, 2017 in New York City. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has been voicing criticism of President Donald Trump's proposed budget that could cut as much as $190 million from New York City efforts to fight terrorism. Following two major terrorist attacks and numerous foiled plots, New York City is considered the nation's prime target for terrorists. The NYPD has stated that it costs $500,000 a day to pay for the nearly 200 police officers in and around Trump Tower on Fifth Ave. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

New York – The New York Police Department’s Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating Nazi drawings found Friday morning at an elementary school yard in Queens, said Detective George Tourovakas.

Dozens of swastikas, a Nazi eagle and the words “Hail Hitler” (sic) were found drawn in chalk on the pavement of PS 139’s schoolyard.

Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz, who represents the district, say her office received photographs from a resident in the apartment building next to the school and immediately informed the police. According to Koslowitz, the area is a predominately Jewish neighborhood.

Koslowitz told CNN she heard stories from her mother, who came from Poland, about anti-Semitic incidents in Europe in the last century. Koslowitz, who grew up in New York, said she never believed an act of this nature could occur in the city.

“This really just has to stop,” she said. “There’s no question about it being a hate crime.”

There have been 36 anti-Semitic crimes reported in the city so this year compared with 21 for the same time last year, according to a New York Times report, which cited police.

City Council member Chaim Deutsch, chairman of the council’s Jewish Caucus, called for a bill that would “require educational outreach to teach about the impact of hate, bias, and anti-Semitism.”